Alejandro Marichal: “Caring for those who care is also a responsibility of public services and a way to protect the well-being of many families in the municipality.”
Dimas Sarmiento: “We want to offer caregivers practical tools, emotional support, and a space where they can also dedicate time to their own well-being.”
The Department of Social Services is launching "A Space for You" next Friday, September 25th, a support program for professional and informal caregivers in the municipality. The initiative will take place at the San Fernando Senior Citizens' Center from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and spaces are limited. Those interested can register by calling the Department of Social Services at 928 723 400, extensions 1916 and 1934.
The program will be delivered through an active, participatory, and experiential methodology designed to provide tools for addressing the various situations involved in caring for dependent individuals. To this end, "A Space for You" will combine psychoeducational content, training in caregiving skills, group emotional support, and coping and self-care strategies. The program aims to create a dedicated space where caregivers can share experiences, identify their own needs, and acquire resources to help them manage their daily tasks.
The program includes a total of 26 two-hour group sessions, structured around six main areas: the care framework and the caregiver's role, the dependency process, practical caregiving skills, emotional management, self-care, and social support networks. The sessions will progressively address the different dimensions associated with this work, from understanding one's own role to developing an individual self-care plan and strengthening available support within the family, social, and community.
The First Deputy Mayor, Alejandro Marichal, emphasizes that "caring for the caregivers is also a responsibility of public services and a way to protect the well-being of many families in the municipality," and points out the importance of having resources available to support those who take on these tasks daily. For his part, the Councilor for Social Services, Dimas Sarmiento, explains that "we want to offer caregivers practical tools, emotional support, and a space where they can also dedicate time to their own well-being." Sarmiento adds that the program will allow for group work on aspects related to both the needs of the dependent person and those of the caregiver.
Among the objectives of "A Space for You" are reducing the physical and emotional burden associated with caregiving, preventing situations related to caregiver burnout, improving practical skills, promoting appropriate coping strategies, and encouraging self-care. The program will also focus on communication with the dependent person and strengthening social and community support networks, recognizing that caregiving can involve emotional and social needs that require support and specific tools.
With this initiative, the Department of Social Services is expanding its efforts to address the needs arising from the aging population and situations of dependency, also incorporating support for caregivers. "A Space for You" will begin on Friday, September 25, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the San Fernando Senior Citizens' Center. Spaces are limited, and registration is open by calling 928 723 400, extensions 1916 and 1934.
